Prompt: What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (150 words max)
Begin by breaking down the essay question:
Darden tells you, "We review three dimensions of your background when considering an offer of admission:
Professional — breadth and depth of your professional background and level of management responsibilities and demonstrated leadership.
Intellectual — potential to succeed academically.
Personal — the unique traits you will bring to the Darden learning community, your ability to work in a diverse group as part of a learning team, leadership potential, your commitment to others, your interpersonal communication skills, etc."
Try to showcase all three aspects through your essays.
Prompt: Tell us what you would want your Learning Team to know about you that is not on your resume. (150 words max)
This is a very short essay, and you don't want to waste it on something that is not meaningful. Remember, you and your Learning Team will become very close over the course of the years, so what would you want them to know at the outset?
Another thing to consider is that although this is submitted to Admissions, your audience is supposedly your peers. Pretend that this is gong to be read out loud to your Learning Team on the first day that you meet.
You can definitely use humor! But even if you do, the humorous thing that you share about yourself should also reveal something meaningful about yourself.
"My parents sold approximately 150,000 donuts to help fund my college education (they own three donut shops in Weatherford, Texas). My proudest moment was when I walked across the stage during graduation at the University of Texas at Austin, officially becoming the first person in my family to earn a college degree. I remember seeing my mom in the crowd, beaming. I will never forget that face."
Another approach is to reveal something that your Learning Team (and Admissions) might not expect just by looking your resume, turning an expectation on its head.
"I am not the stereotypical Patton-esque Army officer who leads with charisma and bravado. My personality is more laid back and quiet than what is normally expected from military officers. My deep, commanding voice is counteracted, as my subordinates have pointed out, by my strong resemblance to Ralphie from A Christmas Story."
Select the prompt to which you will respond.
Q1: Tell us about a time when you acted with a team to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. What role did you play? What did you learn from this experience?
or
Q2: Tell us about a time you acted to solve a problem for the greater good. What drew you to this issue? What did you learn from this experience?
(200 words max)
This is a story about a time when you stepped up to lead: you stood out from the pack.
Select the prompt to which you will respond.
Q1: Share a time when you learned something related to diversity, equity or inclusion that was previously unknown to you? How did this experience impact your perspective?
or
Q2: Share a time when you advocated for a perspective, identity, or community different from your own. How did this experience impact your worldview?
(200 words max)
This is a story about a time when you invited people into the pack.